Prominent advocate for the “Yes” campaign, Marcia Langton, has accused the Australian media of racism while simultaneously threatening legal action against politician Peter Dutton over an Instagram post. The post in question was a photo of Langton with a headline from The Australian newspaper stating, “No voters branded ‘racist, stupid’ by prominent Voice campaigner Marcia Langton.”
Langton revealed during an interview on ABC radio that she had instructed a lawyer to contact Dutton and have the post deleted. She claimed that The Australian took her comments from a public meeting in Western Australia out of context. However, new footage has emerged from Sky News Australia, where Langton can be seen saying, “hard No voters” of the Voice to Parliament are “spewing racism” at a University of Queensland event in July.
In Bunbury on Sunday, Langton told the audience that the No campaign was based on racism and stupidity. An audio recording embedded in The Australian’s article online shows Langton stating, “Every time the No case raises one of their arguments, if you start pulling it apart you get down to base racism – I’m sorry to say it but that’s where it lands – or just sheer stupidity.” However, Langton clarified in an interview with ABC radio that her comments referred to the tactics of the No campaign itself rather than to people who might vote No.
Langton strongly emphasized that she does not believe most Australians are racist and that she herself is not a racist. She stated, “But what I was saying is that the claims made by the ‘No’ campaign are based in racism and stupidity. That’s a completely different kind of statement altogether.” She argued that the No campaign was based on racism “because they’ve got nothing else.” However, she made it clear that she has great regard for the right to vote and was not calling No voters racist.
In addition to her accusations against the No campaign, Langton criticized the Australian media, particularly The Australian, for their treatment of her. She highlighted the Australian Financial Review’s apology for a cartoon depicting Thomas Mayo “in a classical Jim Crow depiction of black people” and stated that she had not received an apology from The Australian. She remarked that the media’s actions reminded her of the kind of racism they perpetuate.
Langton also accused the No campaign of importing tactics from overseas, such as automated phone calls, which she claimed undermine Australian democracy. She expressed her belief that it will take a long time for Australians to recover from the viciousness of the campaign.
In conclusion, Langton’s criticism of the Australian media for racism and her threatened legal action against Peter Dutton over an Instagram post have sparked further debate surrounding the No campaign and the tactics used by both sides. Her comments emphasize the importance of context and the need for respectful dialogue during this ongoing national conversation.
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